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Stray incidents mark Bengal bandh

By Our Special Correspondent

Kolkata Aug. 5. Barring stray incidents, the statewide 24-hour bandh in West Bengal called by the Trinamool Congress passed off peacefully today. `` The bandh had little impact on industry,'' the Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, heading the Left Front Government in the State commented.

An official estimate said that at least 1300 pro-bandh supporters, including four Trinamool MLAs were rounded up from across Bengal mainly for blocking roads and rail tracks. The bandh was called to protest the BJP-run NDA Government's refusal to roll back the Eastern Railway bifurcation plan.

``It's unfortunate that the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Government did not support us in our campaign against the Centre on the bifurcation issue. The communists do not realise that slowly Coal India and the DVC headquarters, too, will be shifted from here (Bengal),'' the Trinamool chief, Mamata Banerjee said.Bandh supporters hurled bombs at State-run buses, tried to set fire to train compartments at Uttarpara and Seoraphuli stations near Kolkata and squatted on roads and rail tracks, police said.

Normal life was disrupted as most of the shops, business houses and educational institutions remained closed. Apart from the State-run buses, which had few passengers, only a few private vehicles plied. The underground rail services were normal.

Tea gardens , mines and ports operated as usual. Attendance in Government offices in the districts was normal but it was poor in Kolkata.

``Only those who have called the bandh can say what they have gained from it,'' Mr. Bhattacharjee said. ``The Prime Minister has done the right thing by cancelling the allotment of petrol pumps. Stringent action is required to be taken in this regard to fight against corruption,'' Ms. Banerjee said. She hoped that the Prime Minister would now exercise his authority and resolve the railway bifurcation issue. He should intervene whenever `there was an attempt to create rifts' between States, she added.

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